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I'm having trouble finding advice about applying to positions at religious-affiliated academic institutions, and I am hoping this forum can help me. I graduated in May of 2008 with my MLIS and I have been looking for a first professional position since December of 2007. My story is like that of many who have posted here, but I am working to stay positive and keep moving forward.
Anyway, I started my search with a very naive understanding of religious-affiliated colleges. I knew that some colleges (Liberty University for example) required their staff to sign affidavits affirming their specific religious beliefs, but I thought that these schools made this clear in their job ads. I thought that most affiliated colleges were sort of affiliated in a symbolic way and weren't going to ask personal religious questions, and I also naively thought that EOE meant I was safe from these questions in most cases.
I learned I was wrong in the course of a hair-raising phone interview that was more about my personal faith than my qualifications. After that experience I considered counting out schools with any religious affiliation, because how could I tell if they would subject me to such things? But this is not the kind of job market where I want to narrow my options more than necessary.
So, a great-sounding job has surfaced at an affiliated institution. But this college leaves 'religion' out of their EOE statement, and they want "character references" who are not former co-workers, employers, or relatives. Am I right in thinking that this is a way of saying "give us your pastor's name?" I would have no problem supporting the mission of an affiliated institution, but I do not feel comfortable having my private faith and personal life up for discussion. Does this mean all affiliated colleges are out?
I may have just answered my own question! I would love to hear advice or similar stories. Thanks!
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StayingPositive wrote:I graduated in May of 2008 with my MLIS and I have been looking for a first professional position since December of 2007. You may have been looking since 2007, but for most organizations you were not even under consideration until May of 2008.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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Yes, when I began my search six months before graduation it was only for positions beginning after my graduation date. This worked well, because while I don't have a position, I did have two interviews before graduation. I would encourage all MLIS students to begin their search early, but to only apply to positions that begin after graduation.
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I suspect you might be right--the school is trying to get at religion without asking specifically. Unless, perhaps, this is an entry level job and they're trying to go easy on you?
Anyway, since you are posting pseudonymously,why not just share the school in question and let us tell you what we actually do know?
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Since I have never applied for a position with a library that had religious affiliations, I can only say that the "personal references" (from people other than employers) has begun to appear on many applications. I have seen this on about 50% of the application forms requested by city libraries. I don't think that this means they want a pastor's name, even at religiously-affiliated colleges. I have even seen this on volunteer forms! It may be more of a post 9-11 thing than any other sort of sensibility.
It strikes me as incredibly dumb and irritating--but it is what they want, so you have to find people who like you to agree to recommend you based on your sparkling personality, etc. I use colleagues who technically never employed me, if I can. If you volunteer somewhere, you can use those people as references as they know whether you show up on time, and are all those other good things! You can also warn them that they may be asked about your church-habits, which are legally off limits. . . .
Bottom line, don't get paranoid because you interviewed with an idiot. They are out there, and I just remind myself that I am lucky I didn't end up working for them.
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So, if they are a church institution, such as a college owned by a church, they can require religious status of a certain kind---if I read the information on the links correctly. Hmmm. Just goes to show you can learn something new every day! Thanks for the research, too.
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Your question has come up on the "Chronicle of Higher Education" forums. I steered clear of evangelical Protestant colleges because of what was required in their applications such as name of church attending, personal statement about religious faith, testimontial letter from pastor of your church, preference for someone of that religious faith, the list goes on. Faculty attendance of the church of their respective religious denomination may required. Hope this helps! Here's a discussion about applying for religious-affiliated schools: http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,38563.0.html
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I only know that religion requirements come into play as my wife is a school teacher and has taught in Catholic Schools. The wording in the contracts is very similar to what others says about having to agree to the principles, beliefs, and living you life as that organization desires.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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